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Rubio meets G7 ministers in France as US leads on Iran — allies under fire for tepid response

27. März 2026 um 05:00

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in France on Friday to attend the G7 foreign ministers' meeting where he will deliver a clear message on U.S. priorities for the ongoing war with Iran.

In the days leading up to the meeting, other members have taken markedly different approaches to the war. Nearly all of Washington’s partners — Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan — have reacted cautiously to the U.S.-Israeli military campaign and declined to participate in offensive operations, even as they condemn Iranian actions.

Before departing on Thursday, Rubio signaled a defiant approach to the talks: "I don’t work for France or Germany or Japan … the people I’m interested in making happy are the people of the United States. I work for them," he said in a video posted on X.

The divergence has drawn frustration from President Donald Trump, who has pressed allies to contribute more, particularly in securing key maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz. While some countries have signaled a willingness to support defensive or maritime security efforts, they have stopped short of joining direct military strikes.

TRUMP PRESSES NATO PARTNERS ON SUPPORT AS HEGSETH BLASTS HESITATION

"The U.S. is constantly asked to help in wars, and we have. But when we had a need, it didn’t get positive responses from NATO. A couple leaders said that Iran was not Europe’s war. Well, Ukraine isn’t our war, yet we’ve contributed more to that fight than anyone," Rubio added.

"The Strait of Hormuz could be open tomorrow if Iran stops threatening global shipping, which is an outrage and a violation of international law. For all these countries that care about international law, they should be doing something about it," he said before boarding his plane to France.

The remarks set the tone for a summit already marked by growing friction between Washington and some of its closest allies over how to handle the Iran conflict. Rubio has framed the stakes in stark terms. "Iran has been at war with the United States for 47 years . . . Iran has been killing Americans and attacking Americans across this planet," he said during a White House cabinet meeting, adding that allowing Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons would be "an unacceptable risk for the world."

But even before Rubio arrived at the meeting, European officials were signaling a markedly different approach.

"We need to exit from the war, not escalate this further, because the consequences for everybody around the world are quite severe," Vice President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas said during a briefing on the sidelines of the G7 on Thursday.

JACK KEANE CALLS OUT NATO'S WEAKNESS AS SHIPPING CRISIS GRIPS STRAIT OF HORMUZ

"It can only be a diplomatic solution … sit down and negotiate to have a way out," she added.

The contrast between Rubio’s framing and Kallas’s message captures the core tension shaping the meeting.

U.S. officials say Rubio is heading into the talks with a broader agenda that goes beyond Iran.

According to a State Department spokesperson, who spoke to Fox News Digital on background, Rubio will use the meeting to "advance key U.S. interests" and push discussions on the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as "international burden sharing" and the overall effectiveness of the G7.

The U.S. is also expected to emphasize maritime security, including freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, while urging allies to take on a greater share of responsibilities in conflict zones and international organizations, the spokesperson said.

RUBIO, RATCLIFFE TO DELIVER CLASSIFIED IRAN BRIEFING TO 'GANG OF EIGHT' AHEAD OF TRUMP'S STATE OF THE UNION

European officials have instead emphasized the broader risks of the conflict.

France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, said discussions at the G7 would build on a recent joint statement condemning Iran’s actions while also addressing maritime security concerns.

He said the "discussions will provide an opportunity to revisit positions already agreed at the G7 level… including the unjustifiable attacks carried out by Iran against Gulf countries … which we condemned in the strongest possible terms."

Barrot added that ministers would also focus on securing global shipping routes.

"We will also have the opportunity to address maritime security and freedom of navigation … including an international mission … to ensure the smooth flow of maritime traffic in a strictly defensive posture, thereby helping to ease pressure on energy prices," he said.

Kallas echoed that global framing. "All the countries in the world are one way or another affected by this war … it is in the interest of everybody that this war stops," she said.

IRAN SIGNALS NUCLEAR PROGRESS IN GENEVA AS TRUMP CALLS FOR FULL DISMANTLEMENT

Her remarks also pointed to the interconnected nature of the crisis. "Russia is helping Iran with intelligence … and also supporting Iran now with drones," she said, linking the Iran conflict to the war in Ukraine.

That uncertainty is already affecting the structure of the summit, with officials dropping plans for a unified final communiqué to avoid exposing divisions, Reuters reported.

Analysts say those differences reflect deeper structural tensions in the alliance. "Europe has criticized Donald Trump’s ‘maximum pressure’ strategy towards Iran while pursuing a failed diplomatic approach that has enabled the regime to expand its terrorist networks and edge closer to nuclear threshold status," Barak Seener, senior research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, told Fox News Digital.

"This reflects a lack of European capability to project power in the region, particularly in safeguarding the Strait of Hormuz."

Seener added that years of reliance on Washington have left Europe increasingly exposed as the U.S. shifts its strategic priorities. "Years of underinvestment in defense and reliance on the United States have created a dependency that Washington increasingly views as a betrayal of the peace it has guaranteed Europe since the Second World War," he said.

"With the U.S. placing greater value on its relationship with Israel than NATO, the result may be further erosion of the alliance, reduced support for Ukraine and rising economic pressure on Europe."

He warned that the immediate test will come at the G7 itself. "Divisions over how to respond to Iran and to any U.S. request for support are likely to expose a deeper transatlantic split," Seener said.

"Operation Epic Fury has showcased President Trump’s ability to assemble a coalition of allies to eliminate a common threat — in this case the Iranian regime — and stabilize international trade," Jacob Olidort, chief research officer and director of American security at the America First Policy Institute, told Fox News Digital.

"The failure of Western Europe to participate in securing the Strait of Hormuz is particularly egregious because those countries depend on it more than we do," he added.

"At the same time, the historic successes of Operation Epic Fury have awakened a new confidence in our Middle East partners to eradicate the threats from the Iranian regime and to work together to shape a more peaceful and prosperous region."

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Trump warns of Iranian 'sleeper cells' as Canada is accused of harboring regime operatives

12. März 2026 um 20:54

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After President Donald Trump warned recently about Iranian "sleeper cells" potentially operating in North America, Canadian opposition lawmakers are accusing their government of allowing operatives linked to Tehran’s regime to remain in the country.

Trump said Wednesday U.S. authorities were monitoring Iranian networks believed to have entered the United States in recent years.

"I have been (briefed), and a lot of people came in through Biden with his stupid open border," Trump said in response to a question from Fox News’ Peter Doocy. "But we know where most of them are. We've got our eye on all of them."

The remarks came amid growing concern among Western security officials about Iranian intelligence activities targeting critics abroad.

FROM HOSTAGE CRISIS TO ASSASSINATION PLOTS: IRAN’S NEAR HALF-CENTURY WAR ON AMERICANS

In Canada, senior Conservatives say the government has failed to act against Iranian regime officials despite identifying individuals linked to Tehran.

Deputy Conservative leader Melissa Lantsman, immigration shadow minister Michelle Rempel and Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative Québec lieutenant, called upon the Liberal government, in a statement released in Ottawa, to table a plan within one week to take immediate action to stop Iranian regime activities in Canada.

"The Liberals have known for years that there are hundreds of Iranian regime officials in Canada, 239 of whom have had their visas" canceled, the lawmakers said.

NATIONAL SECURITY EXPERT URGES DHS TO RAISE TERROR THREAT LEVEL, WARNS OF SLEEPER CELL RISKS IN US

They added that government officials told a parliamentary immigration committee recently that only one person has been deported so far, citing legal obstacles, including asylum claims, the absence of direct flights to Iran and privacy protections.

"The presence of agents of the Islamic Republic in Canada is not a new issue," Maryam Shariatmadari told Fox News Digital. 

Shariatmadari is one of the faces of the "Girls of Revolution Street" protests against Iran’s mandatory hijab laws who fled Iran after being imprisoned and now lives in exile in Canada. 

"For years, the people of Iran have expressed concern about the presence of these individuals and their children in Canada," Shariatmadari added. 

"A clear example is Mahmoud Reza Khavari and Marjan Al-Agha, who are known embezzlers," she claimed. Iran Wire reported on the case in 2022. "What is striking is that an economic magazine that introduces entrepreneurs has presented the son of Mahmoud Reza Khavari — the former CEO of Bank Melli and a convicted criminal in Iran — as an ‘inspiring businessman’ in Canada and has described him as ‘a young leader.’

"But these days we are seeing more of these individuals," Shariatmadari added. "Their presence has become more visible, and they are organizing gatherings under the slogan ‘No to War,’ while expressing support for Hamas and Hezbollah. Meanwhile, they remained completely silent about the killing of Iranians."

DHS REMAINS UNFUNDED AS IRAN SLEEPER CELL FEARS SPIKE NATIONWIDE AMID SECURITY WARNINGS

Exiled Iranian journalist Mehdi Ghadimi, who now lives in Canada, told Fox News Digital that individuals linked to Iran’s regime often arrive in Western countries through several different channels. 

"Some arrive as students, academics or ordinary immigrants but were already connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps through family ties or ideological affiliation," he said. "They often try to identify activists and critics, so those individuals can face legal or judicial problems either in Iran or even abroad."

Ghadimi said another category operates primarily through financial networks tied to the regime. 

"Another group includes people who used to be members of the IRGC or other state institutions and later enter countries like Canada as private investors," he said. "When someone brings several million dollars for investment, it raises questions about where that money came from."

He added that wealthy business figures who move capital abroad may also do so with the approval of Iran’s security establishment. 

"If someone is moving large amounts of money out of Iran and investing abroad, it is very difficult to do that without the approval of the IRGC and the security institutions of the Islamic Republic," he said.

Ghadimi also pointed to past corruption scandals involving Iranian officials who moved large sums of money overseas, including the case of Khavari, who fled Iran after a major banking scandal and later settled in Canada. 

The criticism comes as Canadian police investigate the disappearance of Iranian dissident Masood Masjoody, a mathematician and critic of Iran’s clerical leadership who vanished earlier this year in Burnaby, British Columbia.

Investigators with Canada’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team say evidence suggests Masjoody was likely the victim of murder, though authorities have not publicly identified suspects, and the investigation remains ongoing, according to The Guardian.

Police say investigators are reviewing Masjoody’s background and personal history as part of the probe, and Canadian media reports have noted aspects of his past that authorities are examining as they work to determine a possible motive.

The case has heightened concerns among Canada’s Iranian diaspora, many of whom have warned for years that Iran monitors and intimidates critics abroad.

Conservatives argue weaknesses in immigration enforcement have allowed individuals linked to the Iranian regime to remain in the country despite visa bans and sanctions imposed by Ottawa.

They are calling on the government to urgently enforce deportation orders against Iranian regime officials, disrupt financial networks linked to Tehran and establish a long-delayed foreign influence registry aimed at exposing agents working on behalf of foreign governments.

"The Liberals can take action against the Iranian regime today, at home within our own borders," they said in the statement. "Too much is at stake. We expect a plan within the week." 

"It’s not complicated. Iran’s regime must not find safe haven in Canada," Lantsman said.

The Canadian government directed Fox News Digital to the Canada Border Services Agency, which did not respond to a request for comment.

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Canada’s Carney under pressure to act after synagogues shot at in latest antisemitic incidents

11. März 2026 um 15:58

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Over the weekend, two Toronto synagogues were attacked by gunfire. Several days earlier, another synagogue was hit by around twenty gunshots on the Jewish holiday of Purim. 

Though the three attacks caused no injuries, many in the Jewish community are demanding concrete action from Prime Minister Mark Carney — not just words of comfort that have typically followed such antisemitic incidents.

Carney took to X saying that the "antisemitic and criminal attacks violate the right of Canadian Jewish men and women to live and pray in complete safety" and "represent a serious assault on the way of life of all Canadians."

ISRAELI MINISTER WARNS CANADA IS 'MARCHING TOWARD THE ABYSS' AFTER JEWISH MAN ATTACKED IN FRONT OF CHILDREN

In the aftermath of the first synagogue attack, Israel's National Security Council warned Israelis overseas to "maintain vigilance and adhere to safety precautions." Among their suggestions were for Israelis to "conceal Jewish and Israeli identifiers while in public spaces," to be aware of surroundings "in areas associated with Israel or Judaism," and to "avoid visiting sites identified as Jewish or Israeli."

On X, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said that "all eyes are on Canada: it’s time to halt the unprecedented wave of Jew-hatred that has erupted since October 7th."

Like many Western countries, Canada has seen a marked rise in annual antisemitic incidents since the Hamas terror attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The League for Human Rights B’nai Brith Canada found that there were 6,219 incidents of antisemitism in Canada in 2024. This constituted an average of 17 incidents per day, more than double the eight incidents per day calculated in 2022. 

CANADA’S ANTISEMITISM ENVOY RESIGNS, CITING EXHAUSTION AMID HATE SURGE

While figures for 2025 have yet to be released, Public Safety Canada noted that from April to June 2025, "Among hate crimes targeting religion… the majority were directed at the Jewish community (69%)."

Conservative MP Roman Baber, said the behavior of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and other liberal Canadian politicians have been "adding fuel to the fire of Jew hatred in Canada."

Baber aimed further criticism at Carney, saying, "When the Prime Minister says on the campaign trail that he knows there is genocide in Gaza, he fuels Jew hatred."

Baber was referring to an event in April 2025 during which a heckler yelled over a bustling crowd that "there is a genocide happening in Gaza." Carney responded, "I’m aware, that’s why we have an arms embargo."

SKYROCKETING ANTISEMITISM IN CANADA SPARKS CONCERN FOR COUNTRY'S JEWS AHEAD OF ELECTION

Carney later said that he did not hear the heckler use the term "genocide."

Baber noted that "when the Prime Minister recognized the Palestinian state, he rewarded the brutality of Hamas, and he did so on the eve of Rosh Hashanah."

In his announcement, released the day prior to the Jewish holiday, Carney claimed that recognizing "the State of Palestine, led by the Palestinian Authority, empowers those who seek peaceful coexistence and the end of Hamas," and "in no way legitimizes terrorism, nor is it any reward for it." He also claimed recognition "in no way compromises Canada’s steadfast support for the State of Israel, its people, and their security." 

Watchdog organization StopAntisemitism told Fox News Digital that "every day we are seeing painful reminders that antisemitism remains a real and dangerous threat. Acts of violence meant to intimidate or silence our community will not succeed. Loud and proud Jews will not allow hatred or fear to deter our Jewish way of life or our presence in the world. Not in Canada, in the United States, in Europe, and certainly not in Israel."

StopAntisemitism called for the perpetrators to "be punished to the fullest extent of the law so that justice is served and deterrence is clear."

Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct a quote attributed to Canada’s Conservative Member of Parliament Roman Baber. 

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US consulate in Toronto struck by gunfire, police say; no injuries reported

10. März 2026 um 19:00

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The U.S. consulate in Toronto was struck by gunfire early Tuesday morning in what authorities are calling a "national security incident."

Deputy Chief Frank Barredo of the Toronto Police Service said two male suspects exited a white Honda CR-V around 4:30 a.m. and discharged firearms at the heavily fortified building before fleeing the scene. 

Police said the CR-V was traveling westbound on Dundas Street West before turning southbound onto University Avenue, and stopping in front of the consulate.

Investigators recovered multiple shell casings and found damage to the building’s glass and door.

ENEMY WITHIN: COUNTERTERRORISM EXPERTS FEAR SLEEPER CELLS COULD BE POISED INSIDE USTO

Barredo said he believes there were people inside the building at the time of the shooting, though no injuries were reported.

Chris Leather, chief superintendent and officer in charge of criminal operations for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Ontario, told reporters the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team has been engaged and is working with Toronto police, federal partners and U.S. counterparts, including the FBI.

He said it is too early to determine a motive or whether the shooting will ultimately be classified as terrorism under Canada’s criminal code.

"There will be no tolerance for any form of intimidation, harassment, or harmful targeting of any communities or individuals in Canada," Leather added.

'LOUD BANG,' DAMAGE REPORTED AT US EMBASSY IN NORWAY; POLICE INVESTIGATING

Security has been increased at the U.S. and Israeli consulates in Toronto and in the Ottawa region as a precaution. 

US EMBASSY STRUCK BY DRONES IN SAUDI ARABIA AS AMERICANS INSTRUCTED TO SHELTER IN PLACE

Officials said there is no indication of an ongoing threat to public safety as the investigation continues.

A State Department official told Fox News Digital the agency is aware of the incident and is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with local law enforcement.

"The shooting that took place at the U.S. consulate early this morning is an absolutely unacceptable act of violence and intimidation aimed at our American friends and neighbors," said Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario.

"Everyone at all levels of government and across Canada needs to make clear that there is zero tolerance for this sort of intimidating and dangerous behaviour, and that we will do whatever it takes to prosecute and punish the people responsible to the fullest extent of the law," he wrote on X.

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Canada's Mark Carney under fire as ‘all over the place’ on Iran, risking wider US rift

05. März 2026 um 23:16

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In less than a week, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has gone from supporting U.S. actions against Iran to raising the issue that the U.S. and Israel "acted without engaging the United Nations or consulting with allies, including Canada" to on Wednesday not ruling out Canadian military participation in the conflict.

"He’s been all over the place," Nader Hashemi, a Canadian-born associate professor of Middle East politics at Georgetown University, told Fox News Digital. "It doesn’t look very good for him or for the government of Canada."

"My own reading is that he’s influenced by public opinion and his understanding of Canada’s national interests and where they lie, and specifically the relationship with the United States at its core. His first statement was very supportive of the American-Israeli attack and then he walked it back two days later when he got a lot of pushback because there was no reference to Canada’s support for international law, rules-based order and the United Nations."

TRUMP PRESSES NATO PARTNERS ON SUPPORT AS HEGSETH BLASTS HESITATION

When asked whether Canada would join the U.S. military against Iran during his visit to Australia on Wednesday, Carney told reporters that "one can never categorically rule out participation" and that Canada "will stand by our allies, when makes sense."

However, former NATO commander and retired Canadian major-general David Fraser told CTV News Channel that it’s "unlikely" that Canada would be drawn into the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran unless a member state, such as Turkey, called for assistance under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

Carney’s latest comments signal the Canadian prime minister’s desire to ensure that "it doesn’t create a deeper rupture with the United States than already exists," said Hashemi.

Melissa Lantsman, deputy leader of the Canadian Conservative Party, summarized the prime minister’s changing position on the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran with a post on X: "We support it, we’re upset about it, we think it’s bad, but also, we might join in."

Her colleague, Michael Chong, the Conservative shadow minister for foreign affairs, told Canadian broadcaster CTV that "supporting the airstrikes and at the same time calling for a secession of those strikes" is "an inherent contradiction."

NATO CHIEF PRAISES TRUMP’S IRAN STRIKES, SAYS KEY ALLIES ‘ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL’

Carney has also had pushback from the political left.

After the airstrikes against Iran began, Alexandre Boulerice, foreign affairs critic for the New Democratic Party of Canada, said in a statement that his party "strongly condemns the American and Israeli bombings of Iran" and "deplores the Carney government’s decision to blindly support this dangerous venture by Israel and Donald Trump's administration. We want Canada to be a voice for diplomacy, peace and international law."

During his Australian tour this week, the prime minister said that "hegemons are increasingly acting without constraint or respect for international norms or laws while others bear the consequences."

He also said Canada supports "efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security," but noted that Canada "take[s] this position with regret because the current conflict is another example of the failure of the international order."

Carney said that "Canada calls for a rapid de-escalation of hostilities and is prepared to assist in achieving this goal."

At a security and defense conference in Ottawa, also this week, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said that Canada calls "on all sides to respect the rules of international engagement" and that "international law binds all parties" in the Middle East conflict.

The results of an Angus Reid Institute poll, involving 1,619 respondents and released on Tuesday, showed that 49% of Canadians opposed the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes against Iran, while 34% were supportive.

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